If you didn't have a Citroen?

[casalingua]

What would you drive if you didn't have a Citroen XM or indeed any sort of Citroen. I'm assuming here the same conditions as you have rather than if you were lottery winners or plutocrats. I might consider a pre-GM Saab 900 hatch or an Opel Signum or maybe a Renault Vel Satis (all oddball hatches). I could even be steered towards a Ghia-spec 1999-2006 Ford Mondeo V6 estate in black over tan (I admire the understated and under-rated style, the steering and practicality). Lastly a Lancia Thesis has its attractions (see my review at CAR magazine online for details). None has the same combination the XM has so none would please me the same way, though the Vel Satis (strange looks and hatchback utility) and Thesis (super interior and excellent ride) are close runners-up.

Richard

[citroenxm]

The next best thing which are even rarer... the Renault 25... either a gtx 2.2 in s1 models or the much better Txi 2.0 multivalve s2...id still get one now subject to space and finding one...

[robert_e_smart]

Good question Richard,

I asked myself the same thing, and this was my answer. I have done about 6K miles in it now, same fuel consumption as the 2.5 XM, and much quicker.

[Peter.N.]

I need a large estate so my choice is limited, an E class Merc would probably fill the bill if I could find a manual one that wasn't falling apart, but the obvious replacement would be a C5

Peter

[citroenxm]

The Q is peter what if there wasn't any citroen in a round about way... so you couldn't have a C5.. peugeot 407? mind you they seem smaller then the 406...

[White Exec]

Maybe a Peugeot 607 (2.7TDV6), maybe a 508, or . . .

Actually, the available XM-alternatives are pretty unappetising. Once you've had one of ours, a lot of everything else is fairly unexciting.

On a slightly different tack of fantasy, What would you ask Citroen to build now, to avoid all that accumulated design wisdom going to waste?
On my list would be a hydro-pneumatically sprung 4x4 --- to rival RAV, X3, X-Trail, Disco, etc. Comfort plus traction!

Chris

[Peter.N.]

The problem is there are very few estates as large as the XM, Peugeot don't make one so in the absense of the C5 it would have to be firstly an E class Merc or second a Mondeo or possibly even a Skoda. The 406 is quite roomy for its size but not in the same league as the XM.

Peter

[robert_e_smart]

We didn't get the 607 V6 hdi in right hand drive unfortunately.

E class estate would be good, minus the rot! Mondeo estate would be good, and a lot with PSA diesel engines.

Have you checked the berlingo multi space yet Peter? Cheap sand cheerful.

[Vince]

I too have driven the 607 a few times in diesel auto form, with stop start technology. Its not a bad drive, but i found visibility rearwards to be quite poor, which doesnt instill you with confidence on the motorway etc.

Paul, a good shout on the renault 25 You really need to have been ferried around in one to fully appreciate them. I can still smell the mushroom leather in the back of the Monaco version i was in in my memory banks

This is a good one....im not one for trying new things or indeed later model cars (they are too poorly built). I could go for a few different cars but they would all need to be about 20 yrs old+ and have the potential to be minted up to show standard.

Possible cars:
Renault 5 mark 1, or Renault 21?
Peugeot 205 gti
Mercedes 190 base spec on the base spec flying saucer wheel trims
Mercedes e class w124 on wheel trims.
Classic Saab 88 or 900
Old Fiat 124 ?

Im glad though that i dont need to make this decision.

[Peter.N.]

We didn't get the 607 V6 hdi in right hand drive unfortunately.

E class estate would be good, minus the rot! Mondeo estate would be good, and a lot with PSA diesel engines.

Have you checked the berlingo multi space yet Peter? Cheap sand cheerful.

As this choice has not been thrust upon me, I will stick with the C5 thanks Robert

Peter